Ripley youth group deliver Christmas hampers

A volunteer youth group from Ripley have delivered Christmas hampers to struggling households around Amber Valley.

The Voices of Youth Community Rangers, organised by housing association Futures Homescape, made the hampers containing food and other essentials before

delivering them to people before Christmas.

The households that received the hampers were all nominated by the Voices of Youth Community Rangers and Futures staff members who know people that struggle

to cover the cost of Christmas.

The hampers, which contained mince pies, Christmas crackers, tinned food, pasta and other festive treats, were part funded by Marks and Spencer, who donated some cash towards the project following a request on Twitter.

Futures Homescape youth activites coorindator Jenny Ball, said: “Christmas can be an incredibly difficult time of year for people with low incomes; these

hampers can really help give these people a little break during the festive period.

“The kids from our youth group and any members of staff who deal directly with tenants were invited to put forward those who might need a little extra to give themselves and their families a small treat at Christmas.”

Sacha Read, of Heanor, was one of the tenants to receive a hamper, he said: “It’s absolutely brilliant to get one of these, it will really help me with Christmas this year. It’s great that Futures Homescape are out there doing things like this in the community.”